The Georgiana Panthers advanced to championship game of the 18th annual Red Level Christmas Tournament with a 50-41 victory over the Straughn Tigers Wednesday afternoon in Red Level.

At the end of the first period, Georgiana was on top 11-6.

Straughn cut the lead down to one early in the second, but at halftime the Panthers held a 19-14 lead.

Georgiana’s offense clicked in gear in the third period with 19 points to take a 38-24 lead into the final period of play.

Straughn picked it up in the fourth period, and Johnathon Driver’s efforts in the final period of play nearly brought the Tigers back.

Driver found the bucket from downtown to make it a 7-point game.

Driver finished the fourth period with 7 points, but it wasn’t enough for the Tigers to make a comeback.

“That was one of the worst offensive games we have played all year,” Georgiana head coach Kirk Norris said. “We missed a lot of free throws and that isn’t something that we haven’t been doing. Overall, I thought we played well enough to win. Straughn has a good team, and I think, with us having such a bad game on offense and we still found a way to win, that says a lot about this team.”

Jacquez Payton led the Panthers with 15 points.

Keaun Samuel led the Tigers with 15 points. Allan George finished with 14 points.

“I was pleased with the effort,” Straughn coach Rusty Andrews said. “Our goal was to keep them at or below 50 points. Georgiana is just so athletic, and I’m proud of the way we played with them.”